My guru Maharaj said something in his blog "Two by Two." I just experienced that this week transcendentally. I have absolutely LOVED all this association with my guru Maharaj. Krishna knew I need this association badly. He had allowed me to spend all this time by going out on japa walks with Maharaj and other devotees, and also on harinam twice!
The first japa walk we went on was up to where old vrndavan was where Srila Prabhupada used to stay, and there was an old mansion way up at the top of the hill where the orginial temple used to be in the 70's. I had never been up that way until Maharaj took us up there. We had gone on a three hour walk up there. we passed by Srila Prabhupada's old house. It was open and we went inside. There wasn't anything in it except a picture of Srila Prabhupada and a picture of Lord Jagganatha and an old flower garland hanging there. I could actually feel Srila Prabhupada's present there as if he was happy we had gone to see his house up there. My guru Maharaj was very sad to see the house in such bad shape because it was left abandoned and not preserved. I wish there was something I could do to help fix it up somehow. They could maybe make it into a tribute to Srila Prabhupada with parahanila so visitors can come up to visit it including the old temple in that mansion too. But they would first have to clear the path way up to the old mansion. The drive way is just over grown with grass and weeds, and there are too many tics in the woods as well. I'd be afraid to go up that way because of that. I hope that someday they will make a clearing for that. It would make my guru really happy to see Prabhupada's old house restored. But I guess they just don't have the money to do it yet. Srila Prabhupada really wanted seven temples here in New Vrndavan. I think they should attempt to remodle the old mansion and Srila Prabhupada's house a little to get started with that. Now that i think about this I feel sad too about it. Maharaj is right. It is such a shame to see such a spiritual historic place go to waste. I now know what he was feeling. If I was weathly I would donate a lot of money to help get that restored so that the guests who come here have more to see. It would really bring in more people and may help to make more devotees.
The second japa walk we went on the next day. Maharaj took us down to a place where they actually make ghee. It was a ghee factory. I had never seen it before. Now that is something to where I could walk to safely because devotees do go that way. It was pretty cool to see how they made ghee. Then Maharaj took us to see some cows. These cows are "aging cows" ones that cannot give milk anymore they keep the older cows there. Some of the cows were really pretty. I liked the black one with the horns. There were some bulls there too and a donkey as well. Why people would want to eat these creatures is beyond me. I always loved going to farms and seeing animals run around but it sad out in the material world where there are slaughter houses and they kill these poor animals for people to eat. I DO NOT believe that God put those animals here for us to eat. That is WRONG. No where in the bible does God say he put those animals here for us to eat. It's just cruelty by human beings alone. They were the ones that said this not God. God cares for all living beings including animals like cows pigs and chickens. I think chickens are cute and cows too. Why would people want to eat these poor creatures?
They have feelings too like humans do but unfortunately not everyone believes in that. :(
After we went to the ghee factory we stopped at this very old and very small cemetary on the way back to the temple. Maharaj led us into the old cemetary by our temple. We sat in a circle and had a small kirtan. Then Maharaj gave us a little lecture on about how difficult it is to control our sense gratifications. Then Maharaj had picked a dandelion that had the white seeds on it. One devotee told him he had to make a wish with it. So Maharaj blew the white seeds at us and he said "I wish for you all to become great devotees." And then Maharaj had tossed the dandelion stem at my forehead which I took as his blessing and mercy to me. I felt purified with him doing that.
But I had a very nice two days on those japa walks. Maharaj sure does know how to take us out on an adventure and give us a good work out at the same time. That was the longest japa walk I've ever been on with Maharaj the other day on that three hour one and I enjoyed it even though it was difficult for me to walk up those steep hills.
Then we had two harinams. The first harinam was awesome. We walked along the streets of downtown Wheeling by the Ohio River. It was pretty ecstatic too. We stopped by this circle where there were benches and stayed there for awhile singing and dancing to the Holy Name. I danced like crazy and when maharaj motioned toward me to dance in the middle of the circle I did without hesitation. I didn't feel shy at all because this was maharaj leading the kirtan and when he leads kirtan I get BLISSED out big time It just felt soo good to hear him sing. I love how he sings. He's got a great singing voice. He sings a lot better than my favorite karmi musicians so now I only want to hear Maharaj lead kirtan and i don't want to hear any other musician except George of course because Maharaj told me not to put him away since he brought me to Krishna. George is the only one I will NEVER give up on. Everything else I can. But anyways, somehow or other I gotta get a voice recorder and record Maharaj's kirtans and lectures so I have something to listen to, especially while he's away so I don't feel too much separation from him. It is very painful being separated from my guru while he's away. At the end of the kirtan Maharaj had blessed us by sprinkling water on all of us. Krishna has been so kind to us to letting Maharaj come with us on harinam.
Then the second harinam we went on was a bit quieter as we had fewer devotees. The first harinam we had about 40 devotees. but it was still fun to spend time with Maharaj on the harinam. Someone had actually played a violin for the harinam which I thought was pretty cool. Maharaj really liked that too. He had us walk in two lines two by two. On this harinam I had a realization. I told my friend Mandakini to watch Maharaj's lotus feet while he's walking because if we follow Maharaj's lotus feet, he will lead us back home to Krishna. :D I told Maharaj this and he smiled. Then at the end of the kirtan I joked around by sayng "One more time!!" And then Maharaj said jokingly "Okay lets go back" lol! I really did want to continue the harinam but we did have to go back to the temple. I hated it to end.
Maharaj has been so merciful. And he is still allowing me to serve him. I feel so loyal and dedicated to my guru Maharaj. I thanked him again today for allowing me to serve him. I enjoy it very much and it makes me happy to see him happy. I am going to continue to try and enjoy as much association with Maharaj while he's here in New Vrndavan and just relish it all.
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